The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-03
BOB BEN'S BONANZA.
Something Better Than Silver or Gold.
Lead niannnds or Conner.

something Better IMAM SILVER or 0otus
Lead, Diamonds or Copper.
The great need in this country is water.
eff / had WATER some one is heard fire.
quently to say, II could make million ="
The artesian well craze is on, and in many
localities parties are boring thousands OF
feet in the hope of striking something that
Will pay better than gold
Bob Ben is a settler here who does not
say much, but who keeps his eyes open
the greater part of the time. He is not
unduly ambitious, and get he aspires to
wealth, and it looks now as though he had
reached the highway leading thereto. Up
in the Socorro mountains is an old mine
shaft, abandoned long ago. Bob Ben
knew about it, as every other old timer
did. He has been in the habit of visiting
it occasionally as most of his acquaint-
ances have also ''You can't help snoop-
ing around an old mine" veteran pros
pector said the other day. You may
know that somebody has cleaned up the
last ounce of ore, or that there never was
any there, but you're bound to feel as
though there might be some that had
been overlooked This was the spirit
that actuated Bob Ben when he paid his
visits to the old Robinson shaft in the
Socorro range.
=
were surprised TO hear that Bob had 80
cated'' the shaft and 100 acres of land
living all around it. When he was asked
concerning the rumor he admitted the
truth, but would give no explanation OF
his intentions.
''What have you struck he was asked
''Oh, nothing much, " he would say.
'tSilYery''
Better nor that"
"Gold?''
Better yet"
LEAD. by thunder?'
mo; not lead. -
''Weu, then, diamonds and "copper"
mo; you can't guess" Bob would say
as he walked off. The next day the ole
fellow had a cabin up, and announced his
intention of living on his claim and going
into the fruit and vegetable line. Every
body said he was a crank, and one friend
sent doctor out to see him, thinking ht
might be touched. To this professional
gentleman Bob told his story:
''You see, mister, this here shaft has
had water in it for years Everybody
knew that as well as | did. At first
used to cuss the water like the other fel
lows did, because wanted to go down the
shaft and see if any metal had sprouteC
there since the crowd left. After a while
it occurred to me that the water might
come from somewhere, and that, as the
country would be rich if it could gel
water, perhaps I'd better look into the
thing little. / found at one time thai
the shaft had $50 feet of water in it, anC
that at another it had only 100 feet. Their
again it had $50 feet. The very bottom
of the shaft is higher than the country
around about. So, thinks |, if | can tun
mel through to the bottom of that shat
I'll strike a water bonanza, and | did
I've got it plugged here. I've let tbs
water out once or twice and it has filled
up again. All that this here land need,
is plenty of water, and it will be as gooC
as any in the country. I'm going to farm
for living, and some day, if the waite
don't give out on me, III sell this plac
for more than a mine on the COmstocl
would bring"
The doctor and others who have visited
the place since agree that Bob Ben has
bonanza, and it is now matter of won
der that nobody ever thought of thi
scheme before. On. NJ Cor. New
York Sun.